The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-15
FARRAGUT IN MOBILE BAY.
His Private Secretary Writes About the Old
Hero's Position During the Fight.

| His Private Secretary Writes About the Old
Hero's Position Daring the Fight.
| J. E. Montgomery. in New York Tribune.
Az warm personal friend and the official Sec
rotary of the late Admiral Farragut. l, too. de-
sire to express my surprise and indi gnation that
anyone, at this late date and in the face of evil
dence which would be accepted in any court as
positive and incontrovertible. should have the
presumption to resurrect the long settled ques-
ton to whether our great naval hero
Flashed to the rigging of the Hartford in the
memorable battle of Mobile Bay" II would
seem to any reasonable person that such over
towering testimony has been adduced not
only from the great Admiral himself, but from
responsible officers of different grades alone
quallne d. by the stations they occupied during
the brilliant engagement, to speak authorita
lively upon the subject, would be amply sui-
cient to establish forever the truth of in ter
esting little episode which has become indelibly
stamped upon the pages of history feature
of one of the grandest naval battles in our civil
war.
Shortly before I left America in 1877, the Trib-
une published a letter over my own signature,
giving detailed sketch of this entire scene, de-
scribed from information obtained directly from
the Admiral himself, which was verified and
pronounced correct In every particular by GER
tain officers who were present and whose special
duty was TO observe closely every movement of
their commander and receive his instructions
verbally. These witnesses included Capt
Percival Dcayton. the flag captain of the fleet,
who was stationed on the poop deck of the Hart
ford and ordered the quartermaster to carry
rope TO the Admiral to make himself fast: Ad-
m1raI ttneu captain James IT, JOu6tt, VINO COM
manded the Metacomet, the consort of the Hart
ford. and who was standing on the wheei-house of
his vessel. almost directly below the
Admiral; Captain Kimberly. executive
officer of the flagship: Captain then lieu
tenantl Crittenden Watson, fag-lieutenant,
whose special duty staff officer kept him
close to the Admiral. and who asserts that he
sisted in tying the rope when his famous chief
took his second position in the mizzen rigging:
Ensign Brownel who was stationed on the poop
deck of the Hartford with instructions take
signal officer, who from his position, had
ceptional opp ortuultes for observing all that
transpred in the course of the brilliant engage
ment; and Quartermaster Knowles, who carried
up the rope TO the Admiral under orders and
sisted in flashing him to the rigging. There
other witnesses of vital Importance but as l
have not my original letter with me. cannos at
present recall all I would wish to mention, but
the sworn testimony of any one of those specified
statement
AT this point could reasonably take leave of
the subject as settled beyond all chance of dis
pute, but as additional evidence can serve to rem
der even proof armor-clad l desire to state that
l was by the Admiral's side in Pages studio
when he examined the picture painted by tina.
artist. and heard him distinctly inGorse the po-
sition of himself and the adjustment of the rope
as ''sineularly correct and, Furthermore, that
drawn By Mr.. John w. Ehninger, representing
him in the ''futtocK shrouds'' of the Hartford,
with the rope attaching MIN to them. In ad
dition to this, L assert that in response to con-
slant inquiries as to 'show it happened that he
was dashed to the rigging heard the famous
old hero describe in modest detail for his auditors
would never permit him-as he wshed-to leave